[Decessus00]

I'm interested in purchasing a molecular model kit and would like some suggestions on which one I should buy.  I received on with my O-Chem textbook but it's incredibly crappy.  The holes in the molecules are too small, and the bonds are like toothpicks which makes forming and breaking bonds somewhat irritating. 

I'd like a kit that has a wide range of colors to represent a wide range of molecules.  If there are deluxe kits that have a bunch of molecules (so I only have to buy one kit) that would be awesome, but I'd rather have quality over quantity.  If I have to buy more than one set of a good quality kit then that's okay with me. 

A couple of sets that I looked at on Amazon are:

Prentice Hall Molecular Model Set For Organic Chemistry
Teacher Molecular Modeling Kit
Molecular Model Kits for Organic Chemistry

If you have any experience with any of these kits, let me know what you think.  If you've played with another brand or model than let me know what you think about that one also.  I appreciate it, thanks.

[Dan]

I have used a couple of different ones, I can't remember exactly which but either very poor quality kits (with plastic straws for bonds) up to metal sets (very expensive). You can get sets with rubber bonds, but I don't like them as they flail around too much.

I personally have a HGS set which I get on with very well and is not too expensive. HGS do various sets, check:

http://www.hgs-model.com/model/index.html

[azmanam]

HGS is the best.  Go with HGS.  I like the 1005 if you're going to be sticking around organic chemistry for a while.

[408]

First and second links to models are nice kits.
My favorite is http://www.molymod.com/
with individual pieces available here http://www.sigmaaldrich.com/labware/products/molymod/atoms.html
kit here http://www.webelements.com/shop/product.php/13/molymod__quot_a_level_quot__inorganic_organic_student_set/aa6c04f6ad6de86fe0e8a8cc7c72cf31